Key Points
- A petition requesting the adoption of a section of Deene Road in Smithills by Bolton Council was formally submitted.
- More than 280 people signed the petition calling for the council to take responsibility for the road.
- The council has rejected the petition after official consideration, maintaining the section’s current status.
- The petition was discussed and referred to the Council’s Director of Place during a full council meeting.
- Official minutes record the referral and the subsequent rejection.
- The petition specifically related to the stretch of Deene Road between Smithills Dean Road and Aspen Close.
- Smithills residents and road users cited maintenance and improvement concerns in urging adoption.
- The outcome of this decision has prompted further community discussion but no change in council position.
Bolton Council has rejected a plea from Smithills residents to adopt a section of Deene Road after a petition signed by over 280 people was formally discussed at a council meeting and passed to officials for assessment, according to multiple local government documents and news sources.
What was the petition about Deene Road in Smithills?
As reported by the council's official documentation and summarised by news outlets such as the Bolton Metropolitan Borough and Track Europe News, a petition signed by 281 residents and road users in Smithills called for the adoption of a stretch of Deene Road, specifically between Smithills Dean Road and Aspen Close. The residents urged the council to assume responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of this part of the road, citing hopes for improved conditions and safety.
How did Bolton Council respond to the petition?
As detailed in the official minutes released by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council and highlighted by the aforementioned media coverage:
"A petition was received relating to the adoption of a section of Deene Road between Smithills Dean Road and Aspen Close and it was referred to the Director of Place".
Following review, as reported by Track Europe News, the council declined the request and justified their decision with council protocols and existing policies. The Director of Place led the council’s response and ultimately decided not to recommend adoption of the section in question, leaving its status unchanged.
Why did residents call for Deene Road to be adopted by the council?
According to Bolton Council records and restated by Track Europe News, residents signing the petition raised concerns about the state of the road and wanted it brought under council control for better maintenance, more consistent repairs, and improved access:
- Maintenance and repair responsibilities — Petitioners suggested that council adoption would streamline the process for urgent repairs and routine upkeep.
- Safety concerns — Local signatories highlighted issues ranging from potholes to unclear boundaries between public and private maintenance obligations.
What was reported during the council meeting?
Council meeting minutes from Bolton Metropolitan Borough provide an authoritative record of events. Councillor Peel, seconded by Councillor Cox, oversaw the referral of the petition to the Director of Place. The official records confirm there was no debate on the specific petition during the council session—an approach consistent with standing council procedures when referring matters for review and advice.
No immediate objections or statements of support from other councillors were recorded at the time, nor was there discussion released to the public beyond the procedural referral.
What statements were made by officials on the decision?
While no direct statements from councillors or officials were quoted in the minutes, the process was documented in open government records:
- The Director of Place was tasked with reviewing the petition and formulating a recommendation based on council policies and road adoption criteria.
- The document record shows that the result was a decision not to proceed with changing the road’s official status, and no adoption occurred.
How did the local community react to the decision?
While official council sources did not publish subsequent community statements, the petition’s existence and sheer number of signatures reflect significant local concern and support for road improvement. The council decision to reject the plea has reportedly prompted debate among some community groups, but as of the reporting date, no alternative council action was announced by officials.
What is the present status and what happens next?
As of July 2025, the stretch of Deene Road between Smithills Dean Road and Aspen Close remains outside Bolton Council’s adopted road network. Responsibility for maintenance and repairs continues to fall to previous owners or residents, and council deliberations on any future change would require a new proposal or significant developments in local infrastructure policy.